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I colored up the Digi Stamp Tunes Tia on Kraft cardstock using Prismacolor Pencils.

To start making this background for Tunes Tia, I distressed the edges of the Kraft card stock.

Using some watercolors I got from the craft store, I used a water brush and some yellow to color all the background around Tunes Tia.

As you can see, the paper is starting to warp a little bit considering its not watercolor paper, but just grab a paper towel and dab off the excess water from time to time. You can also adjust how much paint by dabbing the paper towel onto the card stock to pick up color.

I start adding in pinks. I also add in some drops of color with my watercolor brush.

Then some blues.

The fun thing about the watercolor is you can treat it a bit like mixed media.

I added in a cute rub on atop the background once it dried.

There you have it. An adorable watercolor background that took about 5 minutes to create.

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I have a fun little project to share with you all today! I love the idea of having some hand-colored bookmarks that I can give out as little gifts to my friends and family, or keep for myself! (tee-hee!)

Step 1: Decide on what stamp you are going to use, I used Nerdy Chihuahua for my project. Print out the stamp in whatever size you desired (I used 3″ tall by about 2″ wide as I didn’t want too large of a bookmark) but make sure you take the image and flip it (mirror the image) as this makes for a more interesting bookmark!

I love Digital stamps for this technique as it allows me to size and flip it in almost any program. I used my Silhouette software, but you can do it in photoshop and even word!

Step 2: cut out the image either by leaving a white border (like I did) or cut along the line of the image. Make sure that you make the border around both images equal in size or when the magnets meet it might look a little wonky. To make my life easier I did use my silhouette, but you can use a cutting mat and cutting knife or scissors if you do not have an electric cutting machine.

Step 3: Cut out a paper strap. I grabbed a book and measured how low I wanted my bookmarks to be in the book and then doubled that length and cut a strip with my paper trimmer. (My measurements for the pattern paper strip were 1″ by 5″)

Step 4: I then attached the pattern paper strap to the back of both images. It is a good idea to use a strong glue or strong tape as the magnets could pull the strap away from the image if they do not have a firm hold. I used Multi Mat Medium to glue Nerdy Chihuahua to the strap.

Step 5: This step is optional, but I think it is a great way to make sure that the bookmark is nice and sturdy. I laminate them! This also protects my coloring from the elements.

After laminating I cut around the little border that the laminator leaves around my image.

Step 6: I then take my paper trimmer and make a score line down the middle of the strap to make sure that the bookmark lays flat in the book. If you laminated your bookmark, you may want to fold it back and forth a little until it lays flat.

Step 7: Add magnets to the back of each image. They do not have to be very big but you do want to make sure that the bookmark does not slide in your book. I ended up sticking the magnets about 2/3 the length of the stamp image, using Sook Wang tape (and I even tried to reposition the one magnet and it would not budge) it is a strong tape and won’t pull off of the plastic when you pull the magnets apart.

Step 8: Enjoy your favorite book! or wrap them up in a pretty box to give as a present!

If you make one let me know, I would love to see which images turn into bookmarks! He was just too cute to give as a present, but now that I know how to make them I want to make a whole bunch for my loved ones!